Injury takes Genus out of starting lineup

Sophomore Sampson Genus, a starter at defensive tackle in USF's first three games, has been limited by a foot/ankle injury and won't be in the starting lineup Saturday at Florida International.

USF will start junior Aaron Harris and sophomore Terrell McClain, who have five and seven tackles respectively in the first three games, at defensive tackle. Coaches hope to have Genus, who has one tackle in three games, available off the bench. Genus had played about 12 snaps in last week's win against Kansas before being sidelined.

"We know we're going to roll (in) a bunch of people," USF coach Jim Leavitt said. "They're all going to play. It's going to be hot, on turf, so we're going to play a lot of people."

The Bulls have just three sacks in three games, but they're facing an FIU offensive line that has allowed nine in two games, the highest average in Division I-A. Senior Jarriett Buie, a starting defensive end, has yet to record a single tackle, but defensive coordinator Wally Burnham said no reserves have played well enough to push him for the starting job.

"It's a shame," Burnham said. "Until somebody challenges him ... somebody needs to come up and say 'I want that job,' make him earn it back. They haven't done it."

Kicker Maikon Bonani, who went 3-for-4 on field goals in his debut against Kansas, including the game-winner as time expired, had the upper part of his kicking leg iced during Thursday's practice, but Leavitt said he had kicked well in practice and was simply resting him.

-- You might have seen that former USF guard Frank Davis was cut by the Cincinnati Bengals, two weeks after landing there after being cut by Detroit. Davis said Thursday that he has a workout Monday with the Cleveland Browns and is hopeful of getting back on an NFL roster soon.

-- Speaking of former Bulls, safety Jeremy Burnett said Thursday he expects to sign with the Tampa Bay Storm when the Arena Football League's free-agent signing period opens next month. Burnett, a Jefferson graduate, is back at his alma mater, working as the Dragons' defensive backs coach and the head junior varsity coach. Another former Bull, linebacker Josh Balloon, is also back at Jefferson as the linebackers coach and the JV defensive coordinator.

About the blog

South Florida Bulls fans, you've come to the right place: the USF Sports Bulletin blog. Tampa Bay Times sportswriter Joey Knight, who covers USF, will post news and thoughts on the Bulletin, and we invite your participation in the comments area. Follow the Times' coverage of USF athletics on Twitter.